Changes in T-Lymphocyte Subsets in Lungs and Spleens of Mice with Slowly Progressive Primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection: Involvement of Unconventional T-Cell Subsets

Our previous study showed that the cell-activation responses and cytokine-secretion patterns were different in lungs and spleens of mice with slowly progressive primary Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The aim of the present study was to characterize the T-cell subsets in lungs and spleens of mice with a similar infection. The percentages of T-cell subsets were determined by flow cytometry and the absolute numbers were calculated. Spleens of infected mice showed a threefold expansion of CD4+ cells but no change in CD8+ cells, whereas lungs had a threefold increase of both subsets. A significant expansion of CD4-CD8-alphabeta+ [double negative (DN)alphabeta+] subsets was observed in the lungs of infected mice compared with uninfected mice. This was not the case in the spleens of infected mice. In infected mice the CD4-CD8- (DN) population preferentially expressed alphabeta-T-cell receptors (TCR) in the lungs but gammadelta-TCR in the spleens. The percentages of many T-cell subsets were significantly higher in the lungs than in the spleens of both uninfected and infected mice. However, the percentages of CD4+ and CD4-CD8+TCR- subsets in the lungs were significantly lower than in the spleens of infected mice. We also observed some previously unreported T-cell subsets: double positive-TCR- (DPTCR-), DPalphabeta+ and DPgammadelta+. So far their functions are unknown.     

Paucibacillary tuberculosis in mice after prior aerosol immunization with Mycobacterium bovis BCG

To develop a murine model of paucibacillary tuberculosis for experimental chemotherapy of latent tuberculosis infection, mice were immunized with viable Mycobacterium bovis BCG by the aerosol or intravenous route and then challenged six weeks later with virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The day after immunization, the counts were 3.71 +/- 0.10 log(10) CFU in the lungs of aerosol-immunized mice and 3.65 +/- 0.11 and 4.93 +/- 0.07 log(10) CFU in the lungs and spleens of intravenously immunized mice, respectively. Six weeks later, the lungs of all BCG-immunized mice had many gross lung lesions and splenomegaly; the counts were 5.97 +/- 0.14 and 3.54 +/- 0.07 log(10) CFU in the lungs and spleens of aerosol-immunized mice, respectively, and 4.36 +/- 0.28 and 5.12 +/- 0.23 log(10) CFU in the lungs and spleens of intravenously immunized mice, respectively. Mice were then aerosol challenged with M. tuberculosis by implanting 2.37 +/- 0.13 log(10) CFU in the lungs. Six weeks after challenge, M. tuberculosis had multiplied so that the counts were 6.41 +/- 0.27 and 4.44 +/- 0.14 log(10) CFU in the lungs and spleens of control mice, respectively. Multiplication of M. tuberculosis was greatly limited in BCG-immunized mice. Six weeks after challenge, the counts were 4.76 +/- 0.24 and 3.73 +/- 0.34 log(10) CFU in the lungs of intravenously immunized and aerosol-immunized mice, respectively. In contrast to intravenously immunized mice, there was no detectable dissemination to the spleen in aerosol-immunized mice. Therefore, immunization of mice with BCG by the aerosol route prior to challenge with a low dose of M. tuberculosis resulted in improved containment of infection and a stable paucibacillary infection. This model may prove to be useful for evaluation of new treatments for latent tuberculosis infection in humans.     

Influence of BCG-induced immunity on the bactericidal activity of isoniazid and rifampicin in experimental tuberculosis of the mouse and guinea-pig.

The influence of previous BCG vaccination on the bactericidal activity of isoniazid and rifampicin has been studied using serial counts of viable tubercle bacilli in the spleens and lungs of mice and guinea-pigs infected intravenously with M. tuberculosis, strain H37Rv. In mice, BCG vaccination decreased the bactericidal activity of isoniazid in the spleen, but did not affect its activity in the lungs, where immunity is less strongly expressed. BCG did not influence the bactericidal activity of rifampicin in either organ. In contrast, previous BCG vaccination in the guinea-pig increased the bactericidal activity of isoniazid and rifampicin in the spleen and lungs. The differences between the animal species might result from the immune response being mainly bacteriostatic in the mouse but bactericidal in the guinea-pig.     

Influence of BCG-induced immunity on the bactericidal activity of isoniazid and rifampicin in experimental tuberculosis of the mouse and guinea-pig

The influence of previous BCG vaccination on the bactericidal activity of isoniazid and rifampicin has been studied using serial counts of viable tubercle bacilli in the spleens and lungs of mice and guinea-pigs infected intravenously with M. tuberculosis, strain H37Rv. In mice, BCG vaccination decreased the bactericidal activity of isoniazid in the spleen, but did not affect its activity in the lungs, where immunity is less strongly expressed. BCG did not influence the bactericidal activity of rifampicin in either organ. In contrast, previous BCG vaccination in the guinea-pig increased the bactericidal activity of isoniazid and rifampicin in the spleen and lungs. The differences between the animal species might result from the immune response being mainly bacteriostatic in the mouse but bactericidal in the guinea-pig.     

Protection of mice against brucellosis by intranasal immunization with Brucella melitensis lipopolysaccharide as a noncovalent complex with Neisseria meningitidis group B outer membrane protein

Intranasal immunization of mice with purified Brucella melitensis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a noncovalent complex with Neisseria meningitidis group B outer membrane protein (GBOMP) elicited a high-titer anti-LPS systemic antibody response and a significant mucosal antibody response. The anti-LPS immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was predominantly of the IgG1 subtype, although there was some response of the IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgG3 subtypes. The antibody titer remained high for 16 weeks postimmunization. Immunized mice and sham-immunized control mice were challenged intranasally with 10(4) CFU of virulent B. melitensis strain 16 M 4 weeks after the second dose of vaccine. The numbers of bacteria in lungs, livers, and spleens at 3 days, 9 days, and 8 weeks postchallenge were determined. Bacteria were found in lungs of all mice on day 3, but there was no disseminated infection of liver or spleen. By day 9, 40% of the mice had infected spleens and livers. At 8 weeks postchallenge, spleens of 25 of 62 immunized mice were infected, compared to 61 of 62 control mice (P < 0.0001). The livers of 12 of 43 immunized mice were infected, compared to 22 of 36 control mice (P = 0.005). In contrast, the lungs of 26 of 46 immunized mice were still infected, compared to 27 of 44 control mice. The numbers of bacterial CFU in lungs of immunized and control animals were identical. These studies show that intranasal immunization with B. melitensis LPS-GBOMP subunit vaccine significantly protects mice against intranasal challenge with virulent B. melitensis. Vaccination reduces bacterial dissemination to spleen and liver but has no effect on the course of lung infection.     

Impact of iron loading and iron chelation on murine tuberculosis

Objective: To demonstrate in a mouse model of tuberculosis that excess iron load enhances the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and to assess whether or not iron chelation may abrogate the effect of iron loading on Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth in the mouse model.
Methods: In the first experiment, female BALB/C mice were infected intravenously with 5.4 × 10⁴ CPU of M. tuberculosis H37Rv per mouse. Before infection, half of them were treated for 2 weeks with 50 mg/kg polymaltose ferric hydroxide, a source of iron. In a second experiment, female BALB/C mice were infected intravenously with 9 × 10⁴ CPU per mouse and half of them were iron loaded for 2 weeks before infection. Both iron-loaded and non-iron-loaded mice were treated with desferrioxamine (DFO), an iron chelator, or isoniazid. At each sacrifice, mice and their spleens were weighed, lung lesions were noted, and the number of M. tuberculosis CFU determined by quantitative cultures of spleen and lungs.
Results: In the first experiment, the number of CFU was significantly higher in the spleen of iron-treated mice than in non-iron-loaded mice at days 14 and 28 after infection. In the second experiment, iron loading enhanced the multiplication of M. tuberculosis in the spleen but not in the lungs, DFO displayed a modest but significant effect on the multiplication of M. tuberculosis in iron-loaded mice, and isoniazid therapy was effective in both iron-loaded and non-iron-loaded mice.
Conclusions: Iron loading of BALB/C mice enhanced the multiplication of M. tuberculosis in the spleens but not in the lungs. DFO exhibited significant activity against M. tuberculosis in iron-loaded mice, and isoniazid therapy was strongly bactericidal in both iron-loaded and non-iron-loaded mice.     

C57BL/6小鼠不同组织器官中NKT细胞的比较

目的比较C57BL/6小鼠肝脏、肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结中NKT细胞的含量、亚型和功能的特点。方法分离正常C57BL/6小鼠肝脏、肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结的淋巴细胞,利用细胞表面分子染色的方法,观察不同组织器官中CD3+NK1.1+NKT细胞及其亚型的含量;淋巴细胞经过PMA和离子霉素刺激后,应用细胞内细胞因子染色的方法,通过流式细胞仪观察NKT细胞IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-9和IL-17的产生情况。结果肝脏中NKT细胞的含量为(25.2±12)%,显著高于肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结。肝脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结中NKT细胞以CD4+细胞亚群为主,而肺脏中NKT细胞以CD4-CD8-亚群为主,同时肠系膜淋巴结的NKT细胞中存在CD4+CD8+亚群。不同组织器官中NKT细胞IFN-γ、IL-4、IL-9和IL-17产生的能力有差别。结论 C57BL/6小鼠肝脏、肺脏、脾脏和肠系膜淋巴结的NKT细胞在含量、表型和功能方面可能存在明显的差异。     

In vitro antibacterial activity of piperacillin/quinolone combinations

Combinations of piperacillin (PIP) with 3 systemic fluoroquinolones: pefloxacin (PEF), ofloxacin (OFL) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) were evaluated by checkerboard technique (bacteriostatic activity) and by time-killing curve technique (bactericidal activity as a function of time) for 4 bacterial strains with following MICs (micrograms/ml): 1 E. coli (PIP: 1, PEF: 0.12, OFL: 0.06, CIP: 0.016); 1 S. marcescens (0.25, 0.06, 0.06, 0.016); 2 P. aeruginosa (2, 1, 0.5, 0.12 and 4, 2, 2, 0.25). Bacteriostatic activity of the 3 combinations showed only different or additive effects (index FIC: 0.62 to 1.5). If the bactericidal activity was defined as a less than or equal to 3 log 10 decrease in CFU/ml in 3-6 h and less than or equal to 4 log 10 in 6-24 h, PIP was not bactericidal at MIC x 8 for all strains; nevertheless, combinations of PIP 2 + PEF 0.25, OFL 0.12 or CIP 0.016 on E. coli and PIP 1 + PEF 0.25, OFL 0.25 or CIP 0.06 on S. marcescens showed bactericidal activity, superior to each antibiotic singly. For P. aeruginosa a less than or equal to 4 log 10 decrease in 6-24 h was observed only in combination with PIP 16 + PEF 1, OFL 1 or CIP 0.25 and PIP 32 + PEF 4, OFL 4 or CIP 0.5. Combinations of PIP with quinolones showed synergistic effects: bactericidal activity was more rapid and prolonged with such combinations at concentrations near MICs and obtained with usual therapeutic doses.     

Impacts of interleukin-12 on multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex in mice

Objective: To evaluate the potential impacts of exogenous administration of murine recombinant interleukin-12 (IL-12) on multiplication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. avium complex (MAC) in murine models.
Methods: Swiss or beige mice were infected intravenously with M. tuberculosis H37Rv or MAC respectively, and were treated by subcutaneous injection with various doses of IL-12, either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Effectiveness of treatment was assessed by the enumeration of CFUs in the spleens and lungs, together with other indicators.
Results: Multiplication of M. tuberculosis was reduced by IL-12 in a dose-dependent manner if the treatment began at day 1, whereas no statistically significant suppression was observed if the treatment began at day 14. Combination with IL-12 did not enhance the bactericidal activity of antituberculosis chemotherapy. The growth curves of MAC in IL-12-treated mice were almost identical to those of untreated controls, indicating that IL-12 did not affect the multiplication of MAC in beige mice. In both experiments, the dosing of IL-12 approached levels of severe toxicity for the mouse strains used.
Conclusions: IL-12 had a positive affect on early multiplication of M. tuberculosis . It had no effect on early multiplication of M. avium complex.     

Recombinant interferon-gamma and chemotherapy with isoniazid and rifampicin in experimental murine tuberculosis.

Viable bacterial counts in the lungs and spleens of mice infected intravenously with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, strain H37Rv were reduced by intravenous recombinant murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) 1000-5000 u, but not by 200 u. Reduction in counts was greatest when IFN-gamma was given 1 day before infection and was not increased by additional doses in the preceding 2 days. The effect was complete in 1 day and was not increased by successive doses during the next week. Giving IFN-gamma in multilamellar liposomes further reduced the spleen viable counts, but this appeared due to the liposomes themselves and not to encapsulation of IFN-gamma within them. Only a minimal reduction in organ viable counts, not statistically significant, occurred when IFN-gamma was given 5 days after infection. Although IFN-gamma alone and isoniazid 25 mg/kg alone reduced the organ viable counts, combined treatment with IFN-gamma and isoniazid was no more bactericidal than isoniazid alone. Similarly, the bactericidal activity of rifampicin 25 mg/kg was not increased by simultaneous administration of IFN-gamma. There seems little likelihood that IFN-gamma would increase the efficacy of the early stages of the chemotherapy of tuberculosis.     

Effect of Cyclophosphamide on Histoplasma capsulatum Infections in Mice

Mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 300 mg of cyclophosphamide (CY)/kg of body weight, and 24 h later were injected i.p. with varying dosages of yeast-phase cells of Histoplasma capsulatum. At specific time intervals organs were removed, ground, and cultured to determine the number of viable organisms contained in the spleen, liver, and lungs. Injection of mice with CY was found to cause a dramatic increase in the numbers of parasites isolated from these organs when compared with non-drug-treated controls. Mice given 10(7) yeast cells showed the largest increase in colony numbers. A greater than fivefold increase in the numbers of organisms isolated from the spleens of CY and 10(3) yeast cell-treated mice, as compared with non-drug-treated animals, was observed at all time periods. The general trend for infected control animals was a decrease in colony numbers. All mice given CY plus 10(7) yeast cells intravenously (i.v.) died by day 20 postinfection. Mice given CY and 10(7) yeast cells i.p. showed no evidence of fatal Histoplasma infection. Deaths occurring by day 5 in CY-treated animals injected with H. capsulatum yeast cells i.v. or i.p. were considered due to bacterial infection or toxicity, or both. Hepatosplenomegaly was observed in mice treated with CY and 10(7) yeast cells of H. capsulatum. Enlarged lungs were also noted. CY control mouse spleens weighed 30% less than normal spleens. Organs of animals injected with H. capsulatum alone did not vary significantly from those of normal mice. Complete drug-induced suppression of humoral antibody response was achieved for 10 days, as determined by hemagglutination titrations.     

结核分枝杆菌Ag85A质粒DNA疫苗治疗小鼠耐药结核病的效果研究

目的 研究结核分枝杆菌Ag85A质粒DNA疫苗治疗小鼠耐药结核病的效果.方法 用结核分枝杆菌高耐利福平低耐异烟肼临床分离株HB361尾静脉注射17～19 g的6～8周龄雌性BALB/c小鼠后,将小鼠随机均匀地分为6组,感染后第3天开始,分别用生理盐水(A组)、pVAX1空载体(B组)、利福平(C组)、微卡菌苗(D组)、Ag85A质粒DNA疫苗(E组)、利福平和Ag85A质粒DNA疫苗(F组)治疗60d,每组10只小鼠.治疗结束后3周,分别取肺和脾观察病理改变,称取重量做菌落计数.结果 治疗结束后3周,与对照组比较,D组、E组和F组肺脏病变有不同程度减轻,病变局限,病变范围分别为50%、20%、20%,2/3区域可见正常的肺泡结构,肺泡轮廓相对清晰,细胞分布均匀.与A组相比,D组、E组和F组肺脏菌落数分别减少了52%、68%、78%;脾脏菌落数依次减少了48%、65%、79%.结论 与对照组相比,Ag85A质粒DNA疫苗单独应用或与利福平联合应用治疗小鼠耐药结核病均显示疗效.     

Enhancement of clearance of bacteria from murine lungs by immunization with detoxified lipooligosaccharide from Moraxella catarrhalis conjugated to proteins

Moraxella catarrhalis strain 25238 detoxified lipooligosaccharide (dLOS)-protein conjugates induced a significant rise of bactericidal anti-LOS antibodies in animals. This study reports the effect of active or passive immunization with the conjugates or their antiserum on pulmonary clearance of M. catarrhalis in an aerosol challenge mouse model. Mice were injected subcutaneously with dLOS-tetanus toxoid (dLOS-TT), dLOS-high-molecular-weight proteins (dLOS-HMP) from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), or nonconjugated materials in Ribi adjuvant and then challenged with M. catarrhalis strain 25238 or O35E or NTHi strain 12. Immunization with dLOS-TT or dLOS-HMP generated a significant rise of serum anti-LOS immunoglobulin G and 68% and 35 to 41% reductions of bacteria in lungs compared with the control (P<0.01) following challenge with homologous strain 25238 and heterologous strain O35E, respectively. Serum anti-LOS antibody levels correlated with its bactericidal titers against M. catarrhalis and bacterial CFU in lungs. Additionally, immunization with dLOS-HMP generated a 54% reduction of NTHi strain 12 compared with the control (P<0.01). Passive immunization with a rabbit antiserum against dLOS-TT conferred a significant reduction of strain 25238 CFU in lungs in a dose- and time-dependent pattern compared with preimmune serum-treated mice. Kinetic examination of lung tissue sections demonstrated that antiserum-treated mice initiated and offset inflammatory responses more rapidly than preimmune serum-treated mice. These data indicate that LOS antibodies (whether active or passive) play a major role in the enhancement of pulmonary clearance of different test strains of M. catarrhalis in mice. In addition, dLOS-HMP is a potential candidate for a bivalent vaccine against M. catarrhalis and NTHi infections.     

Recombinant interferon-gamma and chemotherapy with isoniazid and rifampicin in experimental murine tuberculosis

Viable bacterial counts in the lungs and spleens of mice infected intravenously with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, strain H37Rv were reduced by intravenous recombinant murine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) 1000-5000 u, but not by 200 u. Reduction in counts was greatest when IFN-gamma was given 1 day before infection and was not increased by additional doses in the preceding 2 days. The effect was complete in 1 day and was not increased by successive doses during the next week. Giving IFN-gamma in multilamellar liposomes further reduced the spleen viable counts, but this appeared due to the liposomes themselves and not to encapsulation of IFN-gamma within them. Only a minimal reduction in organ viable counts, not statistically significant, occurred when IFN-gamma was given 5 days after infection. Although IFN-gamma alone and isoniazid 25 mg/kg alone reduced the organ viable counts, combined treatment with IFN-gamma and isoniazid was no more bactericidal than isoniazid alone. Similarly, the bactericidal activity of rifampicin 25 mg/kg was not increased by simultaneous administration of IFN-gamma. There seems little likelihood that IFN-gamma would increase the efficacy of the early stages of the chemotherapy of tuberculosis.     

Transfer of protective immunity in murine histoplasmosis by a CD4+ T-cell clone.

We have reported that a murine Histoplasma capsulatum-reactive CD4+ T-cell line and clones thereof did not adoptively transfer protection against H. capsulatum infection in normal or cyclophosphamide-treated C57BL/6 mice. One explanation for the results was that the T cells failed to traffic to lymphoid organs in these animals. In this study, we have sought to determine whether one of these clones, 2.3H3, could mediate protection in nude (C57BL/10) or irradiated (5 Gy) heterozygous nude (nu/+) C57BL/6 mice. Mice were inoculated intravenously with 10(7) resting 2.3H3 cells or with an equal number of cells of the ovalbumin-reactive clone 1S6; 2 h later, the mice were challenged intranasally with 5 x 10(6) yeast cells. By day 5 of infection, lungs, livers, and spleens of nude and irradiated nu/+ mice given 2.3H3 contained significantly fewer (P < 0.05) CFU than the same organs from mice inoculated with 1S6. This effect was specific for H. capsulatum, since 2.3H3 did not reduce the number of Coccidioides immitis CFU in lungs, livers, and spleens of irradiated nu/+ mice. By day 10, the amounts of H. capsulatum CFU in lungs, livers, or spleens of nude and irradiated nu/+ mice inoculated with 2.3H3 were smaller than those in 1S6-inoculated mice, but these differences did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05). The mortality rate of mice inoculated with 2.3H3 and that of mice inoculated with 1S6 were similar. Histopathological examination of tissues from 2.3H3- and 1S6-inoculated mice demonstrated the presence of granulomatous inflammation in organs from both groups. Tissues from 2.3H3-treated mice contained fewer yeasts per high-power field than tissues from 1S6-treated mice. Thus, irradiated or nude mice are permissive for the expression of protective immunity by a CD4+ T-cell clone. Although the protective capacity of T cells in these animals is transient, these animals will be useful for differentiating protective from nonprotective T-cell clones.     

Onset and Dynamics of Osteosclerosis in Mice Induced by Reilly-Finkel-Biskis (RFB) Murine Leukemia Virus : Increase in Bone Mass Precedes Lymphomagenesis

Newborn NMRI strain mice were infected with Reilly-Finkel-Biskis (RFB) murine leukemia virus (MuLV), a murine leukemia virus that has been shown to induce lymphomas, osteosclerosis, and osteomas in susceptible strains of mice. Bone histomorphometry of the distal femoral metaphyses at 3-month intervals showed osteosclerosis 3 (100%), 6 (100%), and 9 (93%) months after infection. This was represented by significantly augmented cancellous bone mass and accompanied by distinct changes in bone architecture. High numbers of provirus copies were detected at 2-4 weeks in femora, humeri, and calvaria, and viral protein was highly expressed in trabecular and cortical bone cells, particularly in osteocytes. Infected mice showed enhanced bone formation and smaller numbers of osteoclasts relative to sex- and age-matched controls. Osteoclastic differentiation was significantly reduced in cocultures of spleen or bone marrow cells with RFB MuLV-infected osteoclastogenic, osteoblast-like cells. However, RFB MuLV did not impair the activity of mature osteoclasts. In infected mice lymphomas were only observed at 6 (22%) and 9 months (40%) of age. At 3 months, IgG gene and TCR-beta gene rearrangements were not detectable, and new proviruses showed a heterogeneous integration pattern, indicating the absence of lymphoma in early osteosclerotic mice. In contrast, lymphomas, which developed in 8- to 9-month-old infected mice, showed IgG rearrangements indicating development of B-cell lymphomas, together with mono- or oligoclonal expansion of distinct patterns of proviral integrations. These results indicate that RFB MuLV-induced osteosclerosis develops within 3 months after infection and precedes lymphomagenesis. It may therefore be considered an independent skeletal lesion in MuLV-infected mice.     

Roles of Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Respiratory Mycoplasmosis

Current evidence suggests that host defense in respiratory mycoplasmosis is dependent on both innate and humoral immunity. To further delineate the roles of innate and adaptive immunity in antimycoplasmal defenses, we intranasally infected C3H/HeSnJ-scid/scid (C3H-SCID), C3H/HeSnJ (C3H), C57BL/6J-scid/scid (C57-SCID), and C57BL/6N (C57BL) mice with Mycoplasma pulmonis and at 14 and 21 days postinfection performed quantitative cultures of lungs and spleens, quantification of lung lesions, and histopathologic assessments of all other major organs. We found that numbers of mycoplasmas in lungs were associated with genetic background (C3H susceptible, C57BL resistant) rather than functional state of adaptive immunity, indicating that innate immunity is the main contributor to antimycoplasmal defense of the lungs. Extrapulmonary dissemination of mycoplasmas with colonization of spleens and histologic lesions in multiple organs was a common occurrence in all mice. The absence of adaptive immune responses in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice resulted in increased mycoplasmal colonization of spleens and lesions in extrapulmonary sites, particularly spleens, hearts, and joints, and also reduced lung lesion severity. The transfer of anti-M. pulmonis serum to infected C3H-SCID mice prevented extrapulmonary infection and disease, while the severity of lung lesions was restored by transfer of naive spleen cells to infected C3H-SCID mice. Collectively, our results strongly support the conclusions that innate immunity provides antimycoplasmal defense of the lungs and humoral immunity has the major role in defense against systemic dissemination of mycoplasmal infection, but cellular immune responses may be important in exacerbation of mycoplasmal lung disease.     

Resistance of high and low antibody responder lines of mice to the growth of avirulent (BCG) and virulent (H37Rv) strains of mycobacteria.

The resistance to Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) of lines of mice selected for high (H) or low (L) antibody responsiveness was estimated from the rate of BCG multiplication in the organs. During the first 2 weeks after i.v. infection with 5 X 10(6) CFU, BCG multiplied faster in the spleens of H than of L mice. Afterwards there was a more drastic reduction of viable BCG counts in H mice than in L mice so that the residual BCG counts were significantly lower in H mice than in L mice, not only in the spleen but also in the liver and lungs. On the 14th day of infection, the spleen and liver enlargement and the increase of phagocytic activity were similar in the two lines, suggesting an identical T lymphokine release. In contrast with BCG, during the first 2 weeks after infection with 7 X 10(5) CFU, M. tuberculosis (H37Rv) multiplied in the spleens of L mice at a similar or a slightly faster rate than in the spleens of H mice. On the 4th week, the viable H37Rv counts were reduced in H mice whereas L mice did not survive the infection. In mice vaccinated with BCG 5 months before virulent challenge, the multiplication of H37Rv was inhibited in the H and L lines. The protective effect of BCG is therefore stronger in L mice taking into account their higher innate susceptibility to H37Rv. This might be due to the higher level of living BCG found in L mice at the time of challenge.